Removing load bearing walls in Celina

Celina has two very different kinds of houses: older homes on the streets around the downtown square, and the new homes going up across its master-planned communities. Both can be opened up, but they’re built differently, so we plan each one in its own way before we quote.

Two kinds of Celina homes

Celina grew slowly for most of its history, then took off in the last decade and a half. Most homes in the city today are recent builds on slab foundations. A much smaller group of older homes sits near the square, many of them Craftsman homes and bungalows from the early twentieth century.

Removing a wall in a new build is mostly about loads from above. In an older house, it’s just as much about what’s under the floor and what’s hidden inside the wall.

Craftsman homes and bungalows near the square

Older Celina houses usually have a front room, a separate dining room and a small kitchen at the back, with walls between all three. Opening the kitchen to the dining room is the most common request. It gives the house a modern flow while the front of the home keeps its original character.

We match trim and casing where we can, so the new opening looks like it belongs in the house rather than like a cut.

Pier-and-beam floors in older houses

Many homes from that era sit on pier-and-beam foundations, with a crawlspace under the floor. When a bearing wall comes out, the load moves to the posts at each end of the new beam, and those posts need solid support all the way to the ground. The engineer’s plan often calls for new piers or added blocking in the crawlspace before the beam goes in.

Front porches and porch columns

Front porches are part of what makes older Celina homes appealing, and the posts holding up the porch roof take real load. If a post is in the way of a wider entry or a better view of the street, the engineer can size a longer beam so one or more posts come out. The roof stays supported the whole time with temporary shoring.

What can hide inside an older wall

Older walls may be plaster rather than drywall, and they can hide wiring that was added or changed over the years. We open the wall carefully, check what’s inside before the framing comes out, and list any rerouting in your written price so the work day has no surprises.

New homes in Light Farms, Mustang Lakes and beyond

Celina’s newer communities, like Light Farms, Mustang Lakes, Cambridge Crossing, Bluewood and Legacy Hills, are full of homes only a few years old. Many have open kitchens already, but owners often want more: a wider opening to the living room, a dining room joined to the kitchen, or a study opened into a playroom.

Changing a builder floor plan after you move in

Buyers in new communities usually pick from a short list of plans and options. After living in the house for a while, you learn which walls get in the way. Taking one out is a normal change, but in a new home it should be done with an engineer’s design, so the beam works with the engineered joists and trusses the builder used.

If the home is still under a builder warranty, check its terms on structural changes before you start. We provide the engineering and permit records for your file.

Townhomes and shared walls

Some Celina communities, like Mosaic, include townhomes. Interior walls inside a townhome can often be removed, but the wall you share with your neighbor is a fire separation and stays where it is. Your association may also have rules about structural work, so we check those first.

Slab foundations on North Texas clay

New Celina homes sit on slab foundations over clay soil that swells when wet and shrinks when dry. When a long beam replaces a wall, the posts at each end concentrate the load, so the engineer checks whether the slab under them can carry it. If not, the plan adds support before the beam is set.

Permits in Celina

The City of Celina requires a building permit for structural work like removing a load bearing wall. We file it with the engineer’s plan, schedule the inspection and close it out, so the work is documented for future buyers.

Garages, workshops and home extensions

Some Celina properties, like those in DC Ranch, have larger lots with room for a bigger garage or a workshop. We handle garage and home extensions too, including the beam work where a new space meets the existing house. Exterior changes in an HOA neighborhood need architectural approval first, and we help with the drawings.

Opening a wall as part of a larger renovation

If you’re renovating an older Celina home, the wall should come out before new cabinets, flooring or finishes go in. The beam, the ceiling patch and any rerouted wiring or plumbing need to be done first. We can hand your remodeler a finished, permitted opening, or handle the opening on its own if you’re not ready to remodel yet.

What affects the price in Celina

In older homes, crawlspace work, plaster and wiring updates can add to the scope. In newer homes, second-floor loads, long spans and ductwork in the wall are the main factors. Engineering, the permit and patching are included either way, and you get a written price before any work starts.

How long it takes

Engineering and the Celina permit come first and set the overall schedule. After that, most walls come out in one day of work. Our crew shores the house with temporary walls, removes the old wall, sets the beam and posts, then patches the drywall, ceiling and floor. We protect your floors, contain the dust and clean up at the end of every day.

Questions Celina homeowners ask

Can you open up an older home without losing its character? Yes. We keep trim, casing and ceiling details consistent with the rest of the house wherever possible.

Is the wall in my new build load bearing? Often it is, especially under a second floor. Text us photos of the wall and the attic above it and we’ll tell you what we see.

Do I need to leave the house? No. We close off the work area, protect your floors and keep a path through the house.

Where we work in Celina

We work in every part of Celina, from the older streets around the square to Light Farms, Mustang Lakes, Cambridge Crossing, Bluewood, Mosaic, Legacy Hills and the newer communities along Preston Road. Celina reaches into Denton County on its west side, and we work on homes there too.

Book your estimate in Celina

Call or text (469) 436-5680 with photos of the wall, or book a free on-site estimate. We serve all of Celina, plus Prosper, McKinney and Frisco. Every job is $1M insured for structural work and backed by our 12-year written, transferable warranty.